Missouri health lab can now do preliminary Ebola tests (VIDEO)

Missouri now has a lab to conduct preliminary tests for the Ebola virus.

The State Public Health Laboratory in Jefferson City has been designated an Ebola Virus Disease testing lab in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Laboratory Response Network. Preliminary testing of samples for Ebola can now be done at that state lab before being sent to the CDC lab in Atlanta for confirmation testing.

Governor Jay Nixon (D) announced the designation Friday and stressed that there are no cases of Ebola in Missouri. He says he asked the Director of the Department of Health and Senior Service to apply for the designation earlier this month, and confirmation came on Thursday.

Nixon is also releasing $3.3-million in the state budget that he had withheld, for local public health agencies.